Quick facts
- Category: Business / Corporate
- Apostilled by the California Secretary of State (Sacramento or Los Angeles)
- Fee: $20 per document (mail) or $26 (walk-in) at the California Secretary of State
- Free document review before you pay any government fee
- Tracked outbound and return shipping included
What to know
Issuing office: None — the corporation issues the original certificate; a California notary public executes the jurat on the sworn copy affidavit (or acknowledges an officer’s certified-copy statement). CA SOS Notary Public Section: (916) 653-3595. Notarized route (steps): Make a clear photocopy of the original stock certificate. Prepare a copy affidavit: a statement signed by the holder/officer swearing the attached copy is a true and complete copy of the original. The signer appears before a California notary, takes the oath, and signs; the notary executes a jurat, attaches it, and affixes the seal. (Do not ask the notary to “certify the copy” directly — that is only allowed for a power of attorney.) Who can sign it: The shareholder/document custodian or an authorized corporate officer. Required forms: None statewide — a copy affidavit plus California notary jurat wording. Cost +.
Frequently asked questions
Can a California notary just stamp my copy “true copy”?
No — California notaries can directly certify a copy only of a power of attorney. For a stock certificate, use a sworn copy affidavit with a jurat.
What exactly do I submit?
The photocopy attached to a signed, notarized copy affidavit (jurat), with a cover sheet naming the destination country.
Jurat or acknowledgment?
A jurat (sworn) for a copy affidavit. An acknowledgment works if an authorized officer signs a certified true-copy statement instead.
Is there a government fee?
No — only the notary fee plus the apostille.
Common destinations
Countries this document is most often sent to (pulled from this page's own guidance). Every destination has its own rulebook — apostille (Hague) or full legalization (non-Hague).